Kailash Full Moon (Saga Dawa) Festival Tour


Trip Facts

Trip Code
HWT088
Trip Duration
10 Day(s)
Activities
Hiking, Culture
Start Point
Kathmandu
End Point
Kathmandu
Max Altitude
5613m
Group Size
2-12 Pax
Best Season
May to Sep
Diffic. Level
Demanding
Accomodations & Meals

  • 10 Nights Guesthouses (Tibet)
  • Daily Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Locations Covered

Overview


"Mount Kailash, a revered pilgrimage site in Western Tibet, stands as a majestic black rock, reaching a staggering 22,000 ft. It’s among the world’s holiest places yet remains one of the least explored. Thousands of pilgrims annually circle this sacred peak, honoring its religious significance. Additionally, experience the spiritual grandeur of the Saga Dawa Festival, a cherished Tibetan tradition celebrated during the Full Moon. "

Mount Kailash- A Pilgrimage Site

Mount Kailash is a sacred site in Western Tibet, visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims and travelers annually. It has a great mass of black rock, soaring to over 22,000 ft. Mount Kailash has the exclusive feature of being one of the world’s holiest places but the least visited. This is highly revered and circled by thousands of pilgrims each year; never been climbed through. It is against religion and has never been permitted.

 

Full Moon Tour – Saga Dawa Festival

Every year during the Full Moon period, an enormous mass of Tibetan people gather at Tarboche, Kailash, to attend Saga Dawa Festival. This is one of the significant religious festivals in Tibet. The Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated on the Full Moon day of the fourth Tibetan Lunar Month. The most important thing about this festival is replacing the Tarboche Flagpole, the big pole on the way to the Kailash circuit. The Flagpole is taken down annually, and a new flagpole is established. The bar replaces the event seen by all the locals and foreign tourists/pilgrims. People from different parts of Tibet visit this place, attend Saga Dawa Festival, and attach their small prayer flags to the pole as good fortune. As per the Buddhist literary sources, the Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated to highlight the day when Buddha (Sakyamuni) joined the Enlightenment.

 


Join our Fixed Departures to attend the Saga Dawa Festival 2024

Join our Fixed Departure Group Join-in Tours to attend the Saga Dawa Festival every year in western Tibet, Kailash. Joining this festival is to learn about Tibetan culture and festivals. Check out fixed departure dates and join our group tours from Lhasa or Kathmandu-Kerung to celebrate and enjoy this festival in Tibet.

Saga Dawa Festival Dates 2024 and 2025

The year 2024: 23rd May 2024

The year 2025: 11th June 2025


 

Important Notes: 

  • To participate in the Full Moon Tour at Kailash, it is highly recommended to book your trip well in advance. The festival attracts a large number of people, and the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) may limit the issuance of permits. Securing your trip a few months prior to the festival date is advisable. Please note that customization of the travel itinerary may incur additional costs for private trips.
  • The journey to Kailash begins from Kathmandu once the Tibet Group Visa (TGV) is obtained. The processing time for TGV at the Embassy of China in Kathmandu is typically 3-4 working days and your biometric information along with your original passport copy is required to process the visa. Hence, it is essential for you to arrive in Kathmandu at least three to four working days before the trip commences. During your free time, you may consider taking a short hike or exploring the city.

Itinerary Expand All


  • Start the day by driving from Kathmandu to the Kerung border, a journey of approximately 155km and 7-8 hours.
  • Arrive at the Kerung border and check in at the Guest house.
  • Overnight stay at the Guest House in Kerung.

 

Note: We expect you to arrive 3-4 days before your trip begins to process the Tibet Group Visa in Kathmandu. TGV can only be issued in Kathmandu for non-Indian nationals (Rules are subject to change).

  • Spend the day at Kerung for acclimatization and rest.
  • Take the opportunity to explore the local surroundings and adjust to the altitude.
  • Overnight stay at the Guest House in Kerung.
  • Depart from Kerung and drive to Saga, covering a distance of 230km in about 6 hours.
  • Arrive at Saga and check in at the Guest House
  • Overnight stay at the Guest House in Saga.
  • Continue the journey by driving to Lake Mansarovar, a distance of 370km that takes approximately 7 hours.
  • Arrive at Lake Mansarovar and check in at the Guest House.
  • Take some time to explore the area and consider taking a holy bath in the lake.
  • Overnight stay at the Guest House near Lake Mansarovar
  • Explore Lake Mansarovar and its surroundings
  • Take a holy bath in the lake, if desired.
  • Later, drive to Darchen, covering a distance of 40km.
  • Arrive at Darchen and check in at the accommodation.
  • Overnight stay at Darchen.
  • Attend SagaDawa Festival at Tarboche
  • Immerse yourself in the festivities and witness the cultural and religious celebrations.
  • Stay overnight at the Guest House in Darchen.

It’s only about 50 Kilometers to reach Tarboche, the driving time is one and half-hour. Tarboche is the main place for the performance of the Saga Dawa Festival. Enjoy the Festival the whole day and drive back to Darchen. Stay overnight at the basic guest house in Darchen. Accommodation at Darchen is in high demand on that day and we may have to drive to another place if necessary. The guide will make the right decision if necessary.

  • Begin the Kailash Kora, the circumambulation of Mount Kailash.
  • Drive to the Valley of God and start the trek.
  • Reach Dirapur, covering a distance of 18km in approximately 7 hours.
  • Check-in at the Guest House or Tented Camp in Dirapuk.
  • Overnight stay at Dirapuk.
  • Continue the second day of the Kailash Kora.
  • Trek to Zuthulpuk via the challenging Drolma La Pass at an elevation of 5634m.
  • Cover a distance of 19km in about 9 hours
  • Arrive at Zuthulpuk and check in at the Guest House or Tented Camp.
  • Overnight stay at Zuthulpuk.
  • Complete the Kailash Kora, reaching the endpoint.
  • Walk approximately 16km for about 3 hours.
  • Drive back to Saga.
  • Arrive at Saga and check in at the Guest House.
  • Overnight stay at the Guest House in Saga.
  • Drive from Saga to Kerung.
  • Enjoy the scenic journey back, covering a distance of approximately 7-8 hours.
  • Arrive at Kerung and check in at the Guest House.
  • Overnight stay at the Guest House in Kerung.
  • Continue the return journey from Kerung to Kathmandu via Syabrubensi.
  • Drive for about 7-8 hours to reach Kathmandu.
  • End of the tour upon arrival in Kathmandu.

 

Note: – This tour itinerary is based on our fixed departure group join-in tour.  If you wish to make it a private one, we shall arrange and customize the itinerary as per your needs.

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What's Included ?


  • Hotel, Guest House or Tented Accommodation as per program.
  • Private Transportation as per the group size.
  • All necessary Tibet Travel and Trekking permits.
  • One English-speaking Tibetan Guide.
  • All Sightseeing and Entrance fees.
  • Yak and Yak man during the Kora (02 Pax =01 Yak).
  • Supporting Truck (above 4 pax only) (if camping)
  • Meal on Full board Basis (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

What's Excluded ?


  • Travel and personal expenses.
  • Flight/train fare (To and From Lhasa), Group Visa Fee
  • Sleeping bags and Mattress for the tent stay.
  • Insurance of any kind & Medical fee if Emergency.
  • Hiring porter/ horse.
  • Portable oxygen cylinders in of emergency.
  • Rescue and Evacuation Service
  • Any additional cost due to Nature calamity and Unforeseen Circumstances and etc.

Customer Reviews


JU
John UY . Jul 24, 2019
3 Country Tour - Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan

Hassle-free is the word. If you plan to visit these countries? Anup at Himalayan Windows is the guy you need to see. Almost a year of planning and he was on top of things every single time. Any questions? He answers. Any suggestions? He answers. Better yet? You don’t need to plan anything. Have him plan it for you! He even booked us a fine dining restaurant in which my…

Hassle-free is the word. If you plan to visit these countries? Anup at Himalayan Windows is the guy you need to see. Almost a year of planning and he was on top of things every single time. Any questions? He answers. Any suggestions? He answers. Better yet? You don’t need to plan anything. Have him plan it for you! He even booked us a fine dining restaurant in which my wife was really surprised! Thanks for that one, sir! Our only interest was Bhutan and they offer everything including visas. Then, he was kind enough to suggest Tibet and we were like, why not? Since it’s a neighboring country and we haven’t visited it either. We ended up booking the 3 Country tour. Including Nepal yes! Nepal was very entertaining and with our very educated guide Anish! He knew his stuff. Smiling fella! Minus the rain coz we missed our helicopter ride to see up close and personal the all-mighty Mt Everest. But don’t get me wrong. Even if Anup knew that our helicopter ride would be canceled he still showed up, at 6 am! He kept trying and calling constantly if there could be any possibility that we could do the tour but sadly no. That is customer service at its finest. Haven’t encountered such customer service like his. 5 stars on that! Tibet was something else. Altitude sickness yes but we managed. Karma our guide was very accommodating and will give us time to wander around on our own. Knows how to manage time especially visiting the Potala Palace. When he said he’ll meet us at 7 am. He was at the hotel right on the dot. Talk about punctuality! Bhutan was magical! The moment when you land. Everything is just a breeze. Even immigration was very friendly! I have no complaints! Sangay our guide was great! We felt like we weren’t tourists. More like friends. He explained everything perfectly. He even told us to roll down our windows coz of the fresh air. The hike to Tiger’s Nest is no joke but Sangay was there all the way. We have no negative feedback the whole time we were there in the kingdom of Bhutan. A must place to visit! Our only concern was the breakfast at Shambhala Palace in Tibet. To us, it was a cool experience to have Tibetan breakfast such as the tsampa but to the others, they might not be able to enjoy it. Fewer choices of food but that didn’t bother us. Eggs, toast coffee, and tea. No continental breakfast here but we were happy about it. The hotel is nice though! Loving the touch of every piece of furniture they have. Hi-tech shower! When we had dinner they have to fetch it from the other hotel coz the cook wasn’t there anymore. They didn’t say the kitchen is closed. They still provide. We were shocked! We felt bad for the guy delivering the food to us but we gave him a decent tip. Wish we knew all their names coz they were all very nice to us from the beginning when we arrived greeted with a smile and the day we left. The security guard even gave us bottled water on the way back to Nepal. We will surely miss those hardworking folks over there! Keep smiling! One word. Anup will do anything to make your trip a memorable one coz ours was. Even side trips such as having breakfast and having us tried all the dishes or snacks that we wanted to try! Also, even if we were at other Countries he keeps in touch thru WhatsApp just to make sure everything was still in order. He even kept on checking the helicopter ride when we were away! Thumbs up, sir! Hope your business will continue to grow and may you have more customers and friends to come! You are indeed an amazing travel consultant. Thanks again for having us and making our trip a memorable one! Thank   you all, Mr and Mrs. Uy
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Trip Information Expand All


Payment: A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to book the tour with Himalayan Windows (HW). The remaining balance is to be paid three days prior to the departure date. Payment can be made via Wire Transfer or Credit Card. All credit card payments are securely processed and a bank fee applies.

Cancellation: For cancellations more than 30 days before the Tour Start Date, there will be no cancellation fee. If the cancellation happens within 29-4 days prior to the Tour Start Date, a charge of 30% of the total invoice amount will be applied. Cancellations occurring within 3 days or less of the start date or in the case of a no-show, 100% of the total invoice amount will be charged. Learn more about Terms and Conditions.

Accommodation: Accommodation is typically provided in twin rooms in cities, though a single supplement can be requested for an additional fee. During peak season, it can be difficult to find single or twin rooms in the mountains, so our lodges usually offer dormitory-style accommodation. Our priority is always to provide clean and safe rooms for our guests.

Meals: Our packages in Bhutan include full board meals, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. For treks, all meals are provided, but you will need to pay extra for drinking water and snacks.

Nepal Visa: If you are planning a trip to Nepal, you must have a valid passport and Nepal Visa. Depending on your country of origin, you may need to obtain a Nepal Tourist Visa before your arrival. To be eligible, your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from your Tour Start Date. If you are planning on traveling to multiple countries on your trip, make sure to get a multi-entries Nepal Visa.

Bhutan Visa Clearance: All visitors to Bhutan must have a valid Bhutan Visa Clearance before their trip. To obtain it, you must submit a color-scanned copy of your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of your tour. Your tour operator will send you a Visa Clearance prior to your departure, which you must present at the Druk Air/Bhutan Airlines counter during check-in. Once you arrive at Paro Airport, your passport will be stamped with the original visa.

Tibet Group Visa (TGV): All travelers from any nation intending to go to Tibet from Nepal must obtain a Tibet Group Visa (TGV) in Kathmandu with the help of a tour operator. To ensure the successful application of the TGV, you should plan to arrive in Kathmandu 3-4 working days before your travel date. If you are coming from China, you will not require a TGV; instead, you will need a Chinese Visa and Permit. To find out more about the process of entering Tibet, please look into the Tibet entry procedure.

Nepal & Bhutan: Visiting Nepal and Bhutan at the same time is ideal as they share a similar climate. From high mountains to low land sub-tropical plains and jungles, the two countries have similar weather. The best time to visit is from March to April (spring) and October to December (autumn and early winter). During these months, the air is clean and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder months, while June, July, and August (summer) are typically monsoon seasons.

Tibet: It is best to visit Tibet between April and October when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. However, from November to March, it is still possible to explore certain areas like Namtso, Everest Base Camp, and Mount Kailash, as long as the roads are not blocked by snow. Temperatures during this time may be quite cold.

HimalayanWindows strongly recommends that anyone planning to travel in the Himalayas purchase Travel Insurance. This policy will provide coverage in the case of medical emergencies, evacuation, theft, loss of belongings, and last-minute tour/ticket cancellations. Having this protection in place will help ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable.

FAQS


Mount Kailash – also known as the abode of God Shiva – is one of the world's most sacred holy places. It is a peak that is believed to be Lord Shiva's home – located in western Tibet. It stands at 22,000 ft (6,705m), where thousands of pilgrims do the Kailash Mansarovar tour (yatra) every year. Mainly, people to Kora (Parikrama) of Mount Kailash start/end from Darchen and take a… Read More »

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